CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

JANUARY 12, 2009

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 12th day of January 2009, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President Mr. Roland Boudreaux presiding.  Members present were Mr. Douglas J. LaCombe, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. John A. Suire, Mr. Gene I. Daigle Mr. James Higginbotham, Mr. Milton R. Simar, and Secretary-Treasurer, Superintendent John E. Bourque.  Absent, Mr.  Israel Syria

2)         Mr. LaCombe led the prayer.

3)         Mr. Simar led the pledge of allegiance.

4)         Consider approval of a revised agenda, if there are any changes.

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Opening Item #6a was added to the agenda and Consent Item #4 was changed.

5)                  Read and approve minutes of the December 8, 2008 meeting.

      Reading of the minutes of the December 8, 2008 board meeting were dispensed (copies of minutes were sent to member prior to this meeting) and upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the December 8, 2008 minutes were approved.

6)         Hear presentation from Jackie Broussard, Counselor, Armstrong Middle, on counseling program being submitted by the American School Counseling Association.

Ms. Diana Guidry introduced Ms. Jackie Broussard, who discussed the new counseling program being implemented at Armstrong Middle.  She has submitted this program to the American School Counseling Association for review and evaluation.

6a)       Recognize Lanell Regan, bus driver of the year.

            Steve Jones introduced Lanell Regan, who was recognized bus driver of the year in Acadia Parish.  This recognition is sponsored by our insurance company and nominated by her peers.  She was awarded with a plaque and jacket.  The board congratulated her on her achievement.

ACTION ITEMS:      NONE

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Election of board President.

            Upon motion by Daigle, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Lynn Shamsie was nominated for President.  Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, nominations were closed.  Mr. Lynn Shamsie was elected by acclamation.

2)         Election of board Vice President

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Gene Daigle was nominated for Vice President.   Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, nominations were closed.  Mr. Gene Daigle was elected by acclamation.

3)         Authorize Superintendent to advertise for Principal at Morse Elementary.

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote,  the board authorized the Superintendent to advertise for Principal at Morse Elementary.

4)         Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Special Populations Transition Facilitator.

            Mr. Bourque informed the board that from five applicants, his recommendation is Mrs. Patricia Douglas.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation of Mrs. Patricia Douglas for Special Populations Transition Facilitator.  Mrs. Douglas was recognized and briefly addressed the board.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Item #4a was added to the agenda.

4a)       Authorize the Superintendent to advertise for Teacher/Trainer position.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board authorized the Superintendent to advertise for Teacher/Trainer position.

5)         Consider approval of contract for electronic bidding.

            Mr. Leonards presented information regarding the new electronic bidding requirements, recommending the use of Bid Sync.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved contract for electronic bidding.

6)         Consider request from Church Point Middle for out of state travel.

            The Church Point Middle cheerleaders are requesting permission to travel to Orlando Florida for competition at no cost to the board. Upon motion by Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved out of state travel to Orlando Florida for the Church Point Middle cheerleaders.

7)         Consider change in legal counsel to handle FCC issues.

            Mr. Leonards presented information regarding a move by Jeff Olson, FCC attorney, to another firm.  His services will be used on an as-needed basis, and his new rates will be lower than before.  Both Jeff Davis and Calcasieu Parish School Board’s have approved this change.  Mr. Gerard Caswell reviewed this matter and recommends approval.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved change in legal counsel to handle FCC issues.

8)         Consider designating Certificate of Deposit for QZAB debt service.

            Mr. Leonards requested that the board designate the Acadia Parish School Board CD #11042850 at the Bank of Commerce for the purpose of QZAB debt service.  As discussed with our auditor, this will satisfy the deposit requirements for 2008-2009.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved designation of Certificate of Deposit for QZAB debt service.

9)         Consider request from David Cormier for hunting lease on Section 16 southeast of Eunice.

            Mr. David Cormier requested leasing this section, approximately 142 acres of woodland for hunting purposes.  Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved to advertise this property for hunting lease.

            At this time, upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote,  consider for performance contracts (Items 20 through 36)  expiring June 30, 2009  were taken in globo.  Each name and position was read aloud by President Shamsie.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the  two year contract renewals. 

10)       Consider performance contract for Patsy Cart, Principal, Central Rayne Kindergarten.

11)       Consider performance contract for Julie Miers, Principal, Egan Elementary.

12)       Consider performance contract for Bobby Hamlin, Principal, Rayne High.

13)       Consider performance contract for Steven K. Jones, Supervisor, Maintenance/Warehouse.

14)       Consider performance contract for Paula Cutrer, Assistant Principal, Rayne High.

15)       Consider performance contract for Charles Barbier, Principal, Iota Elementary.

16)       Consider performance contract for Wendy Thibodeaux, Assistant Principal, Church Point Elementary.

17)       Consider performance contract for Cal Simar, Supervisor, Child Welfare.

18)       Consider performance contract for Ida Yeager, Principal, Crowley Kindergarten.

19)       Consider performance contract for Antoinette Pete, Coordinator, Parent/Teacher.

20)       Consider performance contract for Margaret Jones, Executive Director, Curriculum & Instruction.

21)       Consider performance contract for Ruth Miller, Supervisor, Child Nutrition.

22)       Consider performance contract for Melanie Venable, Principal, Mire Elementary.

23)       Consider performance contract for Connie Olivier, Assistant Principal, Crowley High.

24)       Consider performance contract for Lee Ward Bellard, Principal, Church Point High.

25)       Consider performance contract for Harvey Ward, Assistant Principal, Church Point High.

26)       Consider performance contract for Dr. Gibson Miller, Principal, Iota High.

27)       Consider performance contract for Marshall Thibodeaux, Principal, Armstrong Middle.

28)       Consider performance contract for Steve Duplechain, Principal, Crowley High.

29)       Consider performance contract for Marlene Courvelle, Assistant Principal, Armstrong Middle.

30)       Consider performance contract for Sondra Myers, Director, Head Start.

31)       Consider performance contract for Kimberley Cummins, Principal, Martin Petitjean Elementary.

32)       Consider performance contract for Dr. Douglas Chance, Supervisor, Secondary Education.

33)       Consider performance contract for Bryan Alleman, Facilitator, Technology.

34)       Consider performance contract for Jill Doga, Supervisor, Media/Technology.

35)       Consider performance contract for Carol Tall, Supervisor, Special Populations.

36)       Consider performance contract for Samuel Babineaux, Assistant Principal, Rayne High.

37)       Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Daigle, the next committee meeting will be on January 21, 2009 and Board meeting will be on February 2, 2009.

38)       Correspondence.    

            There was no correspondence.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:      NONE

CONSENT ITEMS:

1)         Consider assignments and changes of professional employees.

            Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved assignments and changes of professional employees

2)            Consider retirement notification of employees.

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved retirement notification of employees.

3)                  Consider request from teacher, Danielle Young, Crowley Middle School, to waive return to work after sabbatical leave due to her spouse being transferred 50 miles from the school to which the teacher is assigned. (Port Arthur, Texas).

Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approve request.

4)                  Consider request from teacher, Darla Thibodeaux, South Crowley Elementary, to change her sabbatical leave from the 2008-2009 school term to sabbatical leave for the 2008 Fall Semester.

CHANGED TO:

            Consider request from teacher, Darla Thibodeaux, South Crowley Elementary, to change her sabbatical leave from the 2008-2009 school term (full year) to sabbatical leave for the 2008 Fall semester (half year) and waive the return to work requirement.

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the motion failed.  A substitute motion to deny this request was made by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a roll call vote of 4 to 3, the motion was passed.

YEA:    Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. Roland Boudreaux, Mr. Gene Daigle, and Mr. James Higginbotham

NAY:   Mr. Douglas LaCombe, Mr. John Suire, and Mr. Milton Simar

5)                  Receive Sales Tax Report.

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS: 

            Mr. Bourque commended the principals on progress in the schools through the first semester.    He reminded that sales tax supplements were issued last week. 

            Mr. Boudreaux thanks the board, Superintendent and administrators for supporting him as president in the years past.

            Mrs. Julie Miers, head of the Principals’ Association addressed the board on recent improvements in the SRA reading program.  She thanked the board for investing in this effort.  Teachers are becoming more comfortable with the SRA program.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

____________________________

Lynn Shamsie, President

ATTEST:

____________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent